A SPECIAL HONOR — At Monday’s Follansbee Council meeting, Susan Economou, executive director of the West Virginia Municipal League, announced the late John DeStefano has been inducted to its hall of fame for his 22 years of service to the city and efforts to help other cities. On hand for the presentation of a posthumous award for DeStefano were his sister, Cathe Basil; daughter, Julie Piergallini; wife, Cathy; daughter, Nicole Shaw; and Economou. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — At Monday’s Follansbee Council meeting, Mayor Scott McMahon announced a special meeting will be held to consider locations for the city’s fire station and increases to the city’s water rates that had been slated for approval last year.

Council also made plans to meet with the contractor and engineer involved with the replacement of sewer lines along several alleys to share their concerns about follow-up efforts.

The special meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at the City Building.

Following Monday’s meeting, McMahon said a committee of city officials and representatives of the local fire department met with staff with M&G Architects and Engineers of Wheeling to discuss the possibility of adapting plans to renovate the existing firehouse on Main Street for a new building.

McMahon said the architects seemed open to it but suggested a location be selected first. He said both city-owned and private property has been eyed for the station.

Fifth Ward Councilman Joe Kafton said council is expected to receive more information on the matter at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 8.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin secured $2.7 million for the project while Joe Edmiston, an independent grant writer working for the city, secured $1.5 million in state funds for the required local match.

Designs by M&G for renovations to the current fire station call for it to be extended south onto a vacant city-owned lot to allow its bays to be expanded for modern, larger trucks and expanded space in front for the vehicles to be pulled in and out.

They also include a 720 square foot meeting room, more storage space for equipment, sleeping quarters and a fitness room.

Cost for the designs were paid from funds generated by a 1 percent sales tax adopted by the city in 2017. The ordinance establishing the tax called for $50,000 generated by it each year to go to the firehouse.

At the same Dec. 15 special meeting, council also is expected to consider the final reading for increases to the city’s water rates that had been slated to go into effect last year.

Citing rising costs to operate and maintain water treatment systems serving the city and the Hooverson Heights area outside it, a previous council had agreed to raise the base water rate from $11.29 per 1,000 gallons to $24.21 per 1,500 gallons.

The move would have resulted in the monthly bill for customers using 3,400 gallons per month rising from $38.39 to $54.88.

For reasons that aren’t clear, the rate hike was never implemented.

If approved, the new rates will go into effect early next year.

Issues involving paving and work following the replacement of several sewer lines were raised by council members on Monday.

City Manager Chris Manack-Stover said crews with Independent Services, the general contractor, have said they hope to complete paving on affected streets before the year’s end.

But residents are being advised if that doesn’t happen, manholes will remain exposed and city crews won’t be able to plow or salt them in winter.

Affected areas include the 900 block of Oak Alley, 800 block of Rose Alley, 300 and 400 blocks of Mill Alley, Browning Alley as well as others where work has been done.

City Attorney Michael Gaudio said several areas haven’t been fully restored, resulting in a handicap ramp to Follansbee United Methodist Church being above the street and other problems.

Second Ward Councilman John Casinelli suggested laying gravel in some of the areas.

Other council members reiterated a desire to meet with the contractor to discuss the follow-up efforts. McMahon said the engineer for the project also should be contacted for the meeting, which hasn’t been set.

Also on Monday:

• Susan Economou, executive director of the West Virginia Municipal League, announced the late John DeStefano, whose 22 years of service to the city included stints as councilman and city manager, has been named to the organization’s hall of fame.

She noted DeStefano was active in the municipal league and tried to help other cities whenever he could.

Following his death in 2021, Wellsburg officials commented that DeStefano and Follansbee provided invaluable assistance to their city after it was flooded in 2017.

DeStefano had encouraged involvement in the municipal league, saying it offered an opportunity to learn from other municipalities, and served as president of the West Virginia City Management Association and as a member of the International City Managers Association.

He also was an avid golfer, and a golf tournament in his memory and benefiting a charitable cause has been held during the league’s summer conference each year since his death, said Economou.

In related business, Manack-Stover noted the league’s legislative conference in Charleston will be held Jan. 25-27.

She encouraged those planning to attend to let her know.

• McMahon advised a party has expressed interest in buying the site of the city’s former landfill off Allegheny Street.

The small portion of land also is the former site of the Brooke County Animal Shelter, which now operates near Beech Bottom.

Gaudio said he will look into the property’s value so he can determine whether a public auction must be held.

• Council met in executive session with representatives of Cedar One Realty, which has been hired to market city-owned property for potential development.

No action was taken following the session, and McMahon said there’s nothing pending at this time.

• Council observed a moment of silence for West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was shot and killed while serving in Washington.

McMahon noted the mother of fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, who has been hospitalized since he was shot in the same incident, has asked for prayers for his recovery.